new york
CNN
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If you're a TikTok fan and you're worried about how you'll stay connected to the world after the bill is introduced. The app ban passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday…don't panic yet.
For those just catching up recently: U.S. lawmakers have renewed efforts to crack down on TikTok, citing national security concerns related to its Chinese parent company ByteDance. The bill would ban TikTok from U.S. app stores unless the social media platform quickly separates from ByteDance.
The bill, called the Protecting Americans from Regulatory Applications by Foreign Enemies Act, passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee last week. On Wednesday, it passed in the House of Representatives with 352 votes in favor and only 65 members opposed.
For many of the approximately 170 million Americans who use the app, TikTok's ban means the end of a platform that is much more than a platform where young people can follow updates about the Princess of Wales. They have expressed concern that this may be the case. It's where people go to find connections, seek entertainment, seek information, and earn a living. Some TikTokkers have called their representatives in recent days urging them to vote “no” on the bill after the app warned users of a possible ban.
There are other platforms available to TikTok users. Nearly every major social media company has spent the past few years imitating the app's popular formula of snappy, short-form videos combined with powerful recommendation algorithms that keep users scrolling. However, converting a loyal audience from one platform to another is easier said than done.
But TikTok won't disappear from Americans' phones anytime soon.
There are many hurdles for the bill to be signed into law, and if it becomes law it will almost certainly face legal challenges. And if the bill becomes law, the question remains whether U.S. buyers will step in to save the day (if ByteDance is willing to sell its popular platform).
Here's what TikTokkers need to know if they're worried about a ban.
After passing the House, the bill will move to the Senate, where the outcome is more uncertain.
One big hurdle: The bill is largely unpopular with TikTok users, many of whom also happen to be young voters who could have a big impact on the 2024 U.S. election, and senators are pushing it hard. I'm aware of it. Ahead of Wednesday's vote, some TikTok users posted videos of themselves calling lawmakers and threatening to vote for alternative candidates if they voted to pass the bill.
“This process was secret and the bill stalled for one reason: it is prohibited,” a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement after Wednesday's House vote. “We want the Senate to consider the facts, listen to voters, and recognize the impact on our economy, our 7 million small businesses, and the 170 million Americans who use our services. I look forward to it.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday declined to commit to bringing the TikTok bill to the Senate floor for a vote. “As soon as the bill is submitted by the House of Representatives, we will consider it in the Senate,” he said.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin said Tuesday he had concerns about the bill's constitutionality. He added that passing the bill could have political implications. He will sign the bill once it reaches his desk ahead of the 2024 election.
“Excluding large numbers of young voters is not the best-known strategy for re-election,” Durbin said.
That idea may hold even more credence after Biden's likely opponent, former President Donald Trump, reversed his presidential stance in November and said he opposes banning TikTok.
Even if the bill somehow manages to pass the Senate and be signed into law, TikTok has indicated it will likely challenge the bill in court. A similar statewide bill in Montana is on hold pending a trial after TikTok claims it violates the First Amendment.
If passed, the bill would give TikTok about five months to separate from ByteDance or else U.S. app stores would be barred from hosting the app on its platform.
App stores that violate the law could be fined depending on the number of users of the banned app. The bill establishes a $5,000 fine for each user of a prohibited app. Therefore, in the case of TikTok, Apple and Google could each be fined up to $850 billion.
It's unclear whether ByteDance would agree to a sale or spinoff of TikTok. If that happens, the company could struggle to find a U.S. buyer willing to pay big bucks, despite the app's popularity.
TikTok is worth an estimated $100 billion, according to Wedbush analyst Dan Ives. And many of America's biggest tech companies already face intense regulatory scrutiny that could prevent such big acquisitions.
The law would also ban TikTok from U.S. app stores, but it would actually be more difficult for lawmakers seeking to block its use in the U.S. to remove existing apps from users' phones. This will be a major challenge. Additionally, virtual private networking (VPN) services could help U.S. users circumvent TikTok's ban by making it appear as if they are connecting to the internet from another country.
There is no shortage of alternative social media platforms that allow users to create or watch short-form videos.
YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, and X have all developed scrolling video features that mimic TikTok, but many users believe that these competitors have a hard time mastering the recommendation algorithms that make TikTok so appealing. He says he hasn't.
Many TikTok users also say it's difficult to migrate large audiences from TikTok to other platforms. Each platform also has different monetization schemes, which could pose challenges for creators looking to rebuild their businesses that relied on TikTok if they are forced to move to another social network.
TikTok creator and business owner Nadia Okamoto told CNN this week that TikTok's focus on the For You page makes it much easier for brands to reach new audiences compared to other apps. He said that it has become.
“(TikTok users) are primarily looking at content from people they don't follow yet. So as a business, this is something very unique,” she said.
Still, some TikTokkers seem to be preparing for the worst. Some users posted that they were trying to follow their favorite creators on other platforms, while others posted “farewell” videos in case the app was banned.
“If you're someone who makes money on social media, you need to figure out a way to drive your audience away from the app now…What if TikTok gets banned completely?” Growing your audience on TikTok The creator, who calls himself “Business with Sab,'' which provides content focused on “Business with Sab'', said in a video posted on the platform last week. “We need to find a way to get people on our email list.”
